Method and apparatus for the continuous production of drinking straws and the like



April 5, 1960 R. L. IGNELL 2,931,278

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE CQNTINUOUS PRODUCTION OF DRINKING STRAWS AND THE LIKE Filed July 12, 1957 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR R0 L.I3neLL MJWYS 1m April 5, 1960 R. L. IGNELL 2, 3

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE CONTINUOUS PRODUCTION OF DRINKING STRAWS AND THE LIKE Filed July 12, 1957 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 2

INVENTOR R05 L [gne LL 5 fwd PMPM April 5, 1960 IGNELL 2,931,278

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE TINUQUS DUCTION 0F DRINKING STRAWS THE LIK Filed July 12. 1957 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR R0 L .[gHeLL y fw d I Y, PM

A9 5, 1960 R. L. :eusu. 2,

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE TINUOUS ODUCTION 0F DRINKING STRAWS THE LI Filed July 12. 1957 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR Rel? LI neLL 2,931,278 UOUS PRODUCTION 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTDR April 5, 1960 R. L. IGNELL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE comm OF DRINKING STRAWS AND THE LIKE Filed July 12, 1957 lllll p l 1960 R. L. IGNELL 2,931,278

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE CONTINUOUS PRODUCTION OF DRINKING STRAWS AND THE LIKE Filed July 12, 1957 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 ROM LfgneLL April 1960 R. 1.. IGNELL '7 2,931,278

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE CONTINUOUS PRODUCTION OF DRINKING STRAWS AND THE LIKE Filed July 12, 1957 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 Fig.8

INVENTOR ROLF LIgneLL U JWW Apnl 5, 1960 1 2,931,278

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE CONTINUOUS PRODUCTION OF DRINKING STRAWS AND THE LIKE Filed July 12, 1957 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR Roi 7 L. IgneLL April 5, 1960 R |GNELL 2,931,278

METHOD AND APPARATus'FdR THE CONTINUOUS PRODUCTION OF DRINKING STRAWS AND THE LIKE Filed July 12, 1957 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTOR Rob L. IgneLL 85PM JWWNW 4 utilized while at the same time United grates Patent 59 .7

METHOD AND APPARATUS FQR THE CONTINU- OUS PRGBUCTEON 3F DRENKING STRAWS AND TIE LIKE Roif lgnell, Lund, Sweden Application .luly 12, 1957, Serial No. 671,636 4 (Cl. 93-89) The present invention relates to a method of continuously producing e.g. so-called drinking straws through helically winding a strip formed flexible material.

In prior art production of drinking straws or the like through helically winding, either two continuous strips of material are simultaneously helically wound in overlapping relationship on a mandrel or one single strip is helically wound in overlapping relationship between successive winding turns without the use of such mandrel.

Through the invention those advantages to be gained in carrying out both such prior art methods are fully their respective drawbacks are substantially eliminated.

Thus, the method according to the invention is substantially characterized in that one single continuous strip of material is helically wound on a mandrel while simultaneously sealing together the winding turns in overlapping relationship to form a tube.

In case of a strip of fibrous material, the strip before the helical winding step will be subjected to such a treatment, e.g. parafiining, as to impart water resistance and/or wet strength thereto.

After such treatment but before the helical winding there is applied an adhesive to the strip at least along one longitudinal edge zone thereof.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention the sealing together of the winding turns is effected under supply of heat and application of pressure to the tube material. Furthermore, heat may also be supplied to the strip after the application of the sealing adhesive but before the helix winding operation.

The invention also relates to an apparatus for carrying out said method.

The principles of the invention will be more readily understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention,

reference being made to the attached drawings.

Fig. l is a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention for the continuous production of drinking straws.

Fig. 2 is a view, partly in section, of a gluing unit.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the gluing unit shown in Fig. 2.

' Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a helix winding unit.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, of the helix winding unit.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, of a winding mandrel.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view through of the helix winding unit.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary axial section through a cutting the driving mechanism unit.

Fig. 11 is a schematic view, partly in section, of a distributing unit.

Referring to Fig. 1 schematically showing a perspective Patented Apr. 5, 1969 view of an embodiment of an apparatus for carrying out the method according to the invention, a strip I assumed to be of fibrous material is drawn from a supply roll 2 and is carried through a printing unit 3, a drying unit 4, an impregnating unit 5, a gluing unit 6, and a heating unit 7 to a helix winding unit 8 where the strip 1 is helically wound to form a tube 9. Said tube 9 is continuously fed into a cutting unit 11 where it is cut into desired lengths, whereupon said tube lengths in a distributing unit 11 are distributed one by one transversely to the tube feeding direction.

After having passed the printing unit 3 on its way from the supply roll 2 and on one side having been provided with a print adapted to the helix winding intended, said print being subsequently dried to tack-free condition in the drying unit 4, the strip 1 is rendered water repellent and/or is wet strengthened, e.g. through impregnation with paraftin in liquid state.

in this connection the term impregnation unit is not to be interpreted in a restrictive sense but instead be considered as generally including any means rendering the strip of fibrous material water repellent properly and/or wet strength. The impregnation unit 5 as well as the printing unit 3 and the drying unit 4 may be of conventional construction, and therefore said three units will need no further description here.

From the impregnating unit 5 the strip 1 is carried to a gluing unit 6 of which Fig. 2 illustrates a view partly sectioned and viewed in the strip feeding direction and Fig. 3 shows a perspective view. The gluing unit 6 comprises a glue vessel 12 containing a suitable quantity 13 of an adhesive preferably of the emulsion type. In the adhesive quantity 13 is partly immersed a fountain roller 15 rotatably supported by a horizontal shaft 14 substantially parallel to the strip feeding direction, the cylindrical surface of said fountain roller 15 having two spaced annular flanges 16 and 17 which are knurled or otherwise roughened. The glue vessel 14 carries a doctor blade 18 co-operating with the annular flanges 16 and 17 for controlling the rnoistening thereof by the adhesive in the vessel 14.

With an individual one of said annular flanges 16 and 17 co-operate two transfer rollers 19 and 20, respectively, which are situated one above the other and secured to one end of an individual shaft 21 and 22, respectively, substantially parallel to the strip feeding direction. Intermediate their ends the shafts 21 and 22 are horizontally journalled in an individual lever 23 and 24, respectively,

pivotally adjustable on the fountain roller shaft 14. Furfurther spur gear 27 constantly meshing with the spur rollers 19 and 20 so as to cause the upper gears 25 and 26 of the shafts 21 and 22, respectively, and driven from a drive gear 28 meshing therewith.

Over a guide rod 29 or the like the strip 1 is drawn substantially horizontally into the gap of the two transfer side edge zone closest to the fountain roller 15 to engage one transfer roller 20 from beneath, its underside edge zone remote from said fountain roller engaging the other transfer roller 19 from above. For maintaining the two edge zones in engagement with the respective transfer rollers 19 or 20, each of the levers 23 and 24 carries a bail 30 and 31, respectively, which is adapted at the corresponding strip edge to engage the strip side opposite to the respective transfer rollers 19 or 20.

Through the rolling engagement with the annular flanges 16 and 17 adhesive is supplied from the vessel 12 to the transfer rollers 19 and 20, which in turn through their engagement with the respective edge zone of the running strip 1 apply a suitable amount of adhesive limits of the gluing zones, because the adhesive application through the transfer rollers 19 and 20 is effected in Ian outward and backward direction owing to therelative movement of the strip 1 and the glue carrying surface of the' transfer rollers 19 and 20. a

' The angular adjustability of the levers 23 and 24 in relation to the fountain ,roller sh aft 14 will ensure control of the glue zone width through varying the'position f'ofthe gap of the rollers 19 and 20 along the circumfer- "ence of thefountain roller 15 and/or the width of said fgap. In this connection an adjustability of the bails 30 and 31 may be necessary for adapting their positions in relation to the corresponding transfer rollers 19 and 20, respectively. g

In the embodiment of the gluing unit 6 shown and described, the two spur gears 25 and 26 are situated so close to each other that before leaving the gluing unit 6 the strip 1 is somewhat twisted about its longitudinal central axis in order to ensure free passage thereof 1 through the gapof the spur gears 25 and 26.

In the present case, such twist of the strip 1 provided with gluing zones, is utilized in thesubsequent step including cupelling the glue emulsifier and/orconditioning .the glue proper. For that purpose the strip 1 in twisted condition is drawn, over a multifiame gas burner 7 parallel to the trajectory of the strip 1 and having several gas nozzles, the corresponding flames of which sweeping around the running strip 1, thus heating the glue zones thereof. The gas burner 7 is carried by a pivotable lever ;32 and is retractable from an operative position beneath the strip ,1 to a non-operative position by means of a control rod 33 connected to the lever 32.

Beyond the heating unit 7 the strip l -pro'vided with .glue edge Zones is carried to the helix winding unit 8 where it is first passed under a guide roller 34 determining its position and thereafter is drawn obliguely over a horizontal mandrel 35 on which it is helically left-hand wound in overlapping relationship to form a tube, the overlapping of adjacent winding turns corresponding to the width of the glue edge zones. In the present case the strip 1 is carriedto the mandrel 35 in such a manner that along -its trailing edge in the tube'feeding direction the corresponding gluing edge zone is on the-upper side of the ,strip. It is understood, howevenfthat the stripl might as well be carried forward under thesame angle but from theopposite side of the mandrel 35, the helix, winding then starting from beneath with .respect to the mandrel I 35. In such case the guide roller 34 must be located on the same side of the mandrel 35, and along the trailing edge of the strip in the tube feed direction the corresponding-gluing edge zone must be on the strip underside. When right-hand helix winding the conditions in the two cases just mentioned areto be reversed. In the next foregoing, there has been assumed that each winding turn will overlap the trailing edge of the next preceding turn r by its leading edge, the terms trailing and leading" Ins; before being defined with respect to the-tube feeding direction. Of course, the turns might as well overlap the leading edge of the subsequent turn by its trailing edge,

the relative positions of the glue edge zones in relation to the upper and under sides of the strip 1 in such case being reversed in comparison to the corresponding positions in right-hand as well as left-hand winding.

The winding operation proper. is effected in a manner known per se by means ofan endless belt 36 having crossing runs and extending between two horizontal pulleys 37 and 38 situated on oppositesides of the mandrel 35. In

strip 1 while still absolutely sharply defining the inner ness and wear resistance to the mandrel 35.

. 4 the case illustrated in Fig. 4 one run of the belt 36 is passed one turn around the mandrel in such a manner as to give that belt run. turn the same winding direction as the tube to be produced, i.e. a direction corresponding to left-hand winding in the present case. The positions of the pulleys 37 and 38 in relation to each other and to the mandrel 35 are adapted to the desired pitch of the helically wound tube. For maintaining in a fixed position the belt run passed over the mandrel 35, on the runningon side thereof there is provided a guide roller 39 over which said belt run passes before engaging the mandrel 35 from beneath.

To, ensure adequate engagement between the belt 36 and the strip 1 on the mandrel 35 with reasonably constant belt tension and simultaneously to unload the vibrational'stressesotherwise occurring in the mandrel 35 during the winding operation, on the side of the. mandrel 35 opposite to the guide roller 39 there is provided a pressure roller freely rotating on a shaft in a vertical plane parallel to the'mandrel 35. Said pressure roller 40 is in rolling engagement with the outer sideof said belt run 'turn on the' mandrel 35 and has an oblique position in relation to a' vertical plane perpendicular to the mandrel 35 corresponding to the helix winding pitch.

The mandrel 35 is heated to ensure an adequate ad- 'hesion between the gluing edge zones when helically winding the strip 1 on the mandrel 35. For that reason the mandrel 35 is connected to a heater body 41 preferably electrically heated, in which one end of the mandrel 35 is inserted. The mandrel 35 proper consists of a copper core 42 having a steel jacket 43 lending greater stiff- The free .end of the mandrel 35 is provided with a rod 44 in the extension of the core 42 and consisting of a material being less heat conductive than copper. Said extension rod 44 is of smaller diameter than the jacket 43, the

' mandrel 35 thus being thinner at its free end than along the rest of its length. The free end of themandrel 35 reaches beyond the leading edge ofthe belt turn passed around the mandrel 35. Specific heating of the strip 1 is not required for more than the winding operation time, but for preventing an otherwise possible slipping-off of the belt turn from the mandrel 35 the latter should extend beyond the heating and winding zone. As certain building-up of excess glue might be possible on the mandrel portion extending beyond the heating zone the extension rod 44 has been given a smaller diameter than the rest of the mandrel 35.,

. The heater body 41 is supported from a bracket 47 by means of flanges 45 and 46 of poor heat transmitting power, said bracket 47 inturn being fixed to the frame 48. The bracket 47 also carries the guide rollers 34 and 39 as well as the pressure roller 40.

The winding unit for the rest is angularly displaceable 'in the relation to the bracket 47 for setting the most suitable pitch angle of the belt run turn passing over the mandrel 35. The upper side of the frame 48 'is formed with a circular opening. in which is immersed and mounted a circular trough 49 having a substantial rectangular cross-section. Over the openingof said trough 49 there is provided a circular disc 50 the edge of which is accommodated in a corresponding circular recess along the upper edge of the trough 49.

The disc 50 is provided with a central hub portion 51 rotatably journalling the upper end of a vertical shaft 52, the lower endof said shaft 52 being similarly rotatably supported in a corresponding central hub portion 53 of the trough bottom wall.

The two pulleys 37 and 38 are both driven and preferably the pulling pulley 38 with respect to the belt run turn on the mandrel 35 has somewhat greater diameter than the other pulley 37 in order to avoid slackening of the belt 36. The pulling pulley 38 is mounted on the upper end of a vertical shaft 54 extending through a circular hole 55 in the disc 50 and is rotatablysupaasijavs ported by said hole 55 as well as by a standard 56 secured to the disc 50. In a similar way the other pulley 37 is mounted on the upper end of a vertical shaft 57 extending through a radial slot in the disc 50 and rotatably supported by another standard 58. Said standard 58 is radially displaceable along the disc 50 for adjusting the belt tension. To that end the base of the standard 58 is formed with a dove tail rim 59 having a slide fit between two bevelled guide plates 69 and 61 on the disc 50, and furthermore a screw 63 fixed in relation to the disc 56 but turnable about its axis by means of a hand wheel 62 is accommodated in a correspondingly threaded hole 64 of the standard 58. When turning the hand wheel 62, the standard 58 is displaced along the guide plates 60 and 61. I

The shaft 52 carries a spur gear 65 constantly, meshing with a gear 66 fixed to the lower end of the shaft 54 as well as with a gear 68 freely rotatably carried in a forked lever 67 pivotable about the shaft 62. By means of a link 69 one end of which is pivotable about the shaft of the gear 63, the other end being pivotable about the shaft 57 of the pulley 37, the gear 68 is maintained in constant mesh with spur gear 70 carried by the lower end of the shaft 57. By means of the assembly consisting of the forked lever 67, the gear 68 and the link 69, a radial displacement of the standard 58 along the disc 59 is possible without interrupting the driving connection between the shafts 57 and 52.

On the shaft 52 there is also mounted a bevel gear 71 connected to a common drive through another bevel gear.

T he trough 49 is suitably partly filled with oil in order to ensure adequate lubrification as well as smooth and quiet operation. As the shaft 52 at its lower end is provided with a ball bearing 73 fastened thereto and inserted into the hub portion 53 of the trough bottom wall, and at its upper end is fixed against longitudinal displacement the disc 50 together with parts or details indirectly or directly mounted thereon as a unit will be raised from the trough 49.

For cutting the tube 9 formed into desired lengths there is provided a cutting unit being capab e of a restricted displacement along the tube 9 for adjusting the cutting position. The cutting tool proper consists of a knife 74 performing a high speed cutting of the tube 9 substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction thereof. When cutting a helically wound tube only supported from its outside, it has turned out to be feasible to determine the cutting position in such a way that the knife 74 will enter the tube Wall in the thinnest portion thereof, and will emerge from the tube 9 in a turn overlapping zone. The opposite will apply, if the tube is supported from its inside. If the cutting position is determined in another way there will easily result a breaking or opening of the glue joint at the cutting position.

The cutting length of the drinking straws or the like is determined through adjusting the cutting frequency of the cutting knife 74 performinga cyclic cutting operation. The shorter the interval between two successive cuts is in relation to the strip feeding speed the shorter the drinking straws produced will be.

Though drinking straws or the like have a relatively small diameter the continuous tube feed will result in an upsetting of the tube in the cut when using a cutting I knife 74 moving perpendicularly to the tube feeding during the cutting operation. The inclination of the cut is inversely dependent of the speed of the cutting knife 74 when cutting through the tube 9. Therefore, if the cutting speed is increased without simultaneous increase of the cutting frequency, the cutting inclination will be decreased. The cutting unit 10 illustrated in Figs. 8, 9, and 10 has a ratio of three to one between cutting speed and cutting frequency.

The cutting knife 74 is fastened to one end of a lever 75 the other end of which is rotatably supported on 'an excentric pivot 76 at one end of a horizontal rotatable shaft 77 substantially parallel to the tube 9. About the shaft 77 is freely rotatable a sleeve 78, one end of which carries a finger 79 connected to the lever 75 through a link 80. The shaft 77 is driven from a sprocket wheel 81 connected thereto. Furthermore, there is attached to the shaft 77 a spur gear 82 constantly meshing with a gear 83 fixed to a freely rotatable shaft 84 also carrying a spur gear 85 constantly meshing with a gear 86 rigidly connected to the sleeve 78. The gears 82, 83, 85, and 86 form a gearing transmission having a transmission ratio of one to three, the sleeve 78 thus positively rotating at a rotational speed three times that of the shaft 77. a t

The cutting lever 75 is caused to takepart in the rotation of the sleeve 78 because of its link connection to the finger 79. As it simultaneously by its end rotatable about the excentric pivot 76 takes part in the rotation of the shaft 77, its free end carrying the cutting knife 74 will describe a fixed trajectory in the space, said trajectory having three maxirna with respect to the distance from the axis of the shaft 77. Said three maxima are angularly displaced by 120 degrees in relation to each other, and one maximum is located to the place where the plane containing the cutting knife 74 intersects the running tube 9.

The tube 9 enters the cutting unit It) through a hole 87 having an inner diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the tube and passing through two bodies 88 and 89 which are interspaced in the tube feeding dircction so as to define a slot 90 between them, said slot 90 being adapted to support the cutting knife 74 during the cutting movement thereof without requiring any reciprocal movement of the slot 90 in timed relationship to the cutting knife movement. At its inlet end the hole 87 is funnel-shaped in order to facilitate the entering of the tube 9. For guiding the cutting knife 74 into the slot 90 the latter is slightly conically widened at its meeting end.

The cutting knife 74 enters the slot 90 every third revo lution of the sleeve 78, and therefore the distance between two successive tube cuts, i.e. the length of each drinking straw produced, will correspond to three sleeve revolutions.

The transmission or gear ratio of one to three between the shaft 77 and the sleeve 73 is here only chosen as an illustrative example. ()f course, other gear ratios may be utilized, the only requirement being that the cutting knife 74 arrives in the slot 90 at a constant frequency and. that the excentric location of the excentric pivot 76 maintain the cutting knife 74 retracted from co-operative rela- ,tionship to the tube 9 between the cutting occasions. The

higher the speed of the cutting knife 74 is the narrower the slot 99 might be.

As high rotational speeds may be contemplated as far as both the sleeve 78 and the shaft 77 are concerned,

7 great care must be devoted to the balancing of the cutting lever 75, the finger 79, the link 80, and the cutting knife 74 with respect to the dynamic forces. A construction more advantageous out of the balancing point of view will be achieved if the link 80 is dispensed with and the cutting lever 75 instead is caused to perform its reciprocating movement dependent on the excentric location of the excentric pivot 76 between a pair of rollers or the like carried by the finger 79, one of said rollers taking over the driving action of the link 80, the other :roller taking over the coupling action thereof. As the balancing problems are substantially outside the scope of the present invention, the above comments thereto must be con- In Figs. 8 and 9, the balancing of the two rotating systems has been suggested by means of a lever 91 attached to the sleeve 78 and carrying a balancing weight. I

From the cutting unit 10 the tube lengths are fed into a distributing unit 11. The latter comprises a drum 92 sperms" '7 rotating, about a horizontal shaft parallel to the longi- .tudinal tube feeding direction, said drum 92 having such a position thatthe individual tube lengths will enterthe distributing 'unit 11 along a generatrix of the envelope surface of the drum 92 in the vicinity of the upper, intersection of said envelope surface and a vertical plane through the drum axis. Along the drumvenvelope surface there are provided two groups 93 and 94 of radially projecting catching members, said two groups 93 and 94 being 180 degrees angularly spaced from each other.

During the rotation of the drum 92 the tube lengths-95 are'caught' one at a time by a catching member group 93 'or 94 and are caused to perform an outward trans- Iverse movement substantially tangentially to the drum "cross-section, thereby to be carried into a chute 96. Since the tube lengths 95 are somewhat resilient under trans- 'vers'e' pressures, it is feasible to provide some kind of a return detent 97 at the entrance of the chute 96.

Preferably, all those parts of the apparatus for carrypregnating unit 5, and the helix winding unit 8 are driven in such a manner as to lend the strip 1 an adequate tension during the winding operation. The gluing unit 6 is driven'at a speed adapted not only to the speed of the 'fbelt' 36 but also to the properties of the glue in order to secure smooth application of the 'desired thickness.

glue in alay'er of the Preferably, the cutting unit is driven from the helix 'winding unit 8 through a variable speed transmission,

'the speed of the cutting unit 10 thus being variable in relation to that of the helix winding unit 8. Therefore, the length of the separate drinking straws is adjustable in accordance with the foregoing. The distributing unit 11 is driven in timed relationship to the cutting unit 10, i.e. synchronously to the cutting frequency. 7

Besides instruments and control means for supervising the operation of the drying unit 4,the impregnating unit 5, the heating device 7, and the heater body 41, the equipment of the present apparatus also comprises means for controlling the speed of revolution of the driving motor, the transmission ratio of the speeds of the helix winding unit 8 and the cutting unit l0, and the .location of the cutting position along the tube 9 as well as instruments for indicating and/or recording both the production capacity in number of pieces per unit of time and the length of the pieces in question. Preferably, the

production capacity indication is derived through a revolution' indicator having a suitably graduated scale and bein'g 'operatively connected to'the distributing unit drum 92, while the indication of the length of each-tube piece produced may be achieved by an instrument indicating the transmission ratio of the speeds of the helix winding unit 8 and the cutting unit 10 and having a suitable graduation in units of length. It is understood that such graduation is dependent on the tube diameter, the strip width, etc.

To facilitate the cutting of the tube 9 in the cutting 'unit lll'the plane of movement of the cutting lever75 may preferably be inclined in relation to the tube feeding direction, the cutting knife 74, however, moving perpendicular'ly to the tube 9 in the cutting moment. At a given angle :"of inclination of the lever '75 the displacement of the cutting knife 74 in the tube feeding directionwhen cutting through the tube 9 will equal the tube speed at a determined straw length, and therefore the angle in 1 peripheries of said rollers with glue comprises a fountain roller rotatable in contact with a glue supply within a "question should correspond to the average length of straws to be produced bythe apparatus. i I claim: I w 7 1. Apparatus for continuously producing atube' from {a continuous strip of fibrous material comprising aman- -drel supported at. one end thereof, the other end of said mandrel being free,,and means for winding said fibrous strip material hclicallygon and into a tube on said mandrel, said winding means comprising a continuously running endless belt havingruns crossing said mandrel, one

0f said belt runsbeing passed in aloop about said mandrel at a pitch correspondingto the winding pitch desired, a pressure roller positioned on the same side .of said mandrel as that portion of said looped belt run moving in the direction from said mandrel, said pressure roller being freely rotatable and maintaining under pressure a substantially non-slipping rolling engagement with said belt loop on said mandrel for supporting both said belt loop and mandrel, and a freely rotatable guide roller disposed on the opposite side of said mandrel in relation to said. pressure roller, said guide, roller maintaining a substantially non-slipping rolling engagement with said looped belt run at the side opposite .to the tube being formed thereby to supporttsaid looped belt run before engaging said mandrel in a transverse direction as well as perpendicularly to the plane containing the same and thereby always maintaining said belt loop in such position .as will ensure engagement with said pressure roller.

2. Apparatus for producing a tube from a continuous strip of fibrous material by, winding said strip helically about a mandrel and which includes a gluing unit for applying glue to said strip prior to delivery to said mandrel, said gluing unit comprising a roller mounted for rotation in a plane substantially normal to the direction in which said strip is fed, said roller being located so as to establish contact between the periphery thereof and an edge portion only of said strip, means for supplying the {pair of rollers mounted for rotation in a plane substantiallytnormal to the direction in which said strip is fed, one of. said rollers being located above said strip and having the periphery thereof contacting the upper face ofsaid strip along an edge portion only thereof, the other of said rollers being located below said strip and having the periphery thereof contacting the lower face of said strip along only the other edge portion thereof, means for supplying the peripheries of said rollers with glue, and means for rotating said rollers such that each has a componenL of movement-directed transversely outward from thecenter of said strip.

4. Apparatus-as defined in claim 3 for continuously producing a tube wherein said means for supplying the vessel, said fountain roller including on its periphery a pair of axially spaced circular ribs, one of said ribs establishing a running engagement with one of said rollers and the other of said ribs establishing a running engagement with the other of said rollers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Schoen et al.v Aug. 30, 1938 

